Adjustable shoe last



' Dec. 24, 1940.

A. LEVIN 2,226,469

ADJUSTABLE SHOE LAST Filed Dec. 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 24, 1940.A, LEvlN ADJUSTABLE SHOE LAST Filed Dec. 9, 193.9

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 1n ventor jrazaZaZZflZh M A iiorneys Patented Dec.24, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to shoe lasts and has for its primaryobject to provide an adjustable last construction adapted to enable areduction in the length of the last to facilitate the placing of thelast in the shoe and in the removal of the last therefrom.

A further object is to provide an adjustable last of this character ofsimple and practical construction, which is relatively inexpensive tomanufacture, easy to manipulate and otherwise Well adapted for thepurposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View with parts broken away and shown insection.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View showing the last in its retractedposition.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the toe and heel parts separated fromeach other.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the toe part of the last.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the heel part of the last.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on a line6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on a lineof Figure 5, and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the sliding catch member.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose ofillustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention,the numeral 5 designates the toe part of the last, while the numeral 6designates the heel part thereof. The last is adapted for use in mens,womens and childrens shoes, the present embodiment of the inventionillustrating the shape of the last designed for use in women's shoes.The toe and heel portions of the last are constructed of separableelements and the rear face of the toe part is inclined upwardly andforwardly as shown at 1, while the front face of the heel part issimilarly inclined as shown at 8 to fit flatly against the inclinedsurface of the toe part.

A longitudinally extending channelled plate 9 is recessed in theinclined rear face of the toe part 1, the channel being secured inposition by screws or the like In and is provided with a recess shown atIi. Recessed in the inclined face 8 of the heel part is a plate l2having a longitudinally extending tongue I3 adapted for slidableengagement in the channel 9. As shown in detail in Figure 6 of thedrawings, the channel and tongue are provided with interlocking flangesI4 to prevent separation of the parts of the last except when the heelpart is moved into its extreme rearmost position.

A portion of the upper surface of the heel part 6 is inclined forwardlyand downwardly as shown at I5 and is provided with a dove-tailed groovel6 within which is conformably fitted for sliding movement a latchmember H, the lower end of which is adapted to enter the recess H of thetoe part 5 to secure the parts against relative sliding movement.

A set screw I8 is threaded through the catch member to secure the sameagainst movement when the parts are in engaged position as shown inFigure 1 of the drawings. The groove I6 is provided with a recess [9within which a leaf spring 20 is secured at one end, the free end of thespring being positioned in a recess 2| formed in the underside of thecatch I1 and engaging the catch to yieldably retract the same from therecess l I when the set screw I8 is released.

In the operation of the device, when it is desired to place the last ina shoe, or to remove the same therefrom, the catch I1 is withdrawn fromthe recess H and the heel part 6 is moved forwardly along the inclinedrear face I of the toe part whereby the length of the last is reduced tofacilitate the placing of the last into or out of position in the shoe.

It is believed the details of construction and manner of use of thedevice will be readily understood from the foregoing without furtherdetailed explanation.

What I claim is:

1. A shoe last comprising a toe part and a heel part, means slidablyconnecting the parts for adjusting the length of the last, said toe parthaving a recess, a slidable catch carried by the heel part adapted forentering the recess to secure the parts in extended position, springmeans for retracting the catch from the recess and releasable retainingmeans between the catch and the heel part for securing the catch againstretracting movement.

2. A shoe last comprising a toe part and a heel part, an interlockingtongue and groove sliding connection between the adjacent edges of thetoe and heel parts for adjusting the length of the last, said toe parthaving a recess, a dove-tail groove in one face of the heel part, asliding catch conformably fitted in the last named groove having one endengageable in the recess to secure the parts against movement, a recessin the catch, a spring device carried by the heel part and engaging therecess of the slide to retract the same and retaining means carried bythe catch and engageably with the heel part to secure the catch againstretracting movement.

ARNOLD LEVIN.

